Are Koreans ready to break their family ties?

epa03504319 Park Geun-hye (L), the ruling Saenuri Party’s runner for the 19 December 2012 presidential elections, speaks during a campaign event on thee southern island of Jeju, South Korea, 11 December 2012. EPA/YONHAP SOUTH KOREA OUT

On a stage in the middle of Seoul’s busiest shopping district, a disc jockey was bellowing the name of South Korea’s front-running presidential contender: “Park Geun Hye! Park Geun Hye!”

Curious staff peered out of branches of Zara and H&M on Myeongdong, the local equivalent of Oxford Street, as campaigners in red anoraks leapt around to Asian pop. It is election time, Korean-style, and a leadership vote next week spells danger for the country’s mighty, family-owned conglomerates that dominate everything from making mobile phones to grinding coffee beans at roadside cafés.